Notre Dame Classes - Children

Last Updated: 02/17
Applies to Faculty and Staff

Policy

Children, step-children and children under legal guardianship of faculty and staff employed by the University of Notre Dame who meet the dependent verification requirements and standard University admission requirements may receive an educational benefit to attend the University of Notre Dame for an undergraduate education.

Fall and Spring Classes

The amount of the benefit for faculty and staff hired before July 1, 2009 is full Notre Dame tuition reduced by the approximate value of a 12-hour per week student job in the student’s sophomore, junior and senior years. There may be an exception for students studying abroad, or for students who have a severe health problem; requests for such job waivers should be submitted in writing to the Office of Human Resources. If the waiver is granted, the waived amount will be a taxable benefit to the parent.

The amount of the benefit for faculty and staff hired on or after July 1, 2009 is 50% of Notre Dame’s tuition.

The benefit is based upon the lesser of either: (a) 8 semesters or (b) if the child has previously attended college, the standard number of semesters needed to complete a four-year degree based on the class level of the child (e.g., second-semester sophomore, first-semester senior) assigned by the Registrar of the University at the time of eligibility and application of benefit.

Summer Classes

The benefit also provides for one regularly scheduled Notre Dame undergraduate course of up to three credits per summer for eligible children who have not yet attained a bachelor’s degree.

Each child is eligible only for the benefits described, regardless of whether one or both parents are employed at the University.

Eligibility

For faculty and staff hired before July 1, 2009, parent must be a regular, full-time faculty or staff who has completed a minimum of three consecutive years of full-time employment at Notre Dame, or retired with 25 or more years of consecutive full-time employment at Notre Dame.

For faculty and staff hired on or after July 1, 2009, parent must be a regular, full-time faculty or staff who has completed a minimum of five consecutive years of full-time employment at Notre Dame, or retired with 25 or more years of consecutive full-time employment at Notre Dame.

The five years of consecutive full-time employment requirement or a portion thereof may be waived for all eligible faculty and staff after July 1, 2009 if both of the following apply:

The faculty or staff member became employed in a regular full-time position at Notre Dame within 90 days of leaving regular full-time employment at an accredited four-year university or college, and

The faculty or staff member provides a statement from the prior university or college as verification of prior service

Qualifying regular, full-time faculty or staff must remain in full-time employment of the University after the child has been admitted to the University.

Children may receive the education benefit if the eligible parent dies or becomes totally disabled regardless of whether the child was receiving the benefit at the time of death or disability.

Student must be 26 years of age or younger.

The benefit may continue past the age of 26 if the child is currently enrolled in an eligible program, presently using the benefit and has not yet utilized the full benefit. Once a child is over the age of 26, they must continue to take courses each semester, except summer, in order to maintain their eligibility. If there is a break in college attendance, the child will lose their eligibility permanently, regardless of any unused benefit balance.

Procedures

The student must apply and be admitted to the University of Notre Dame. The faculty or staff member must complete and submit an Application for Educational Benefits form as follows:

Upon initial application prior to first period of enrollment. Re-application necessary only after attendance breaks. Each summer session.

For children not attending the University of Notre Dame during the regular academic year, a Summer Session Application must also be completed in order to register for a course. To receive a summer session packet contact the Summer Session Office at 631-7282 or for further information visit the Summer Session Office website.

Additional Program Information

Notre Dame does not have a part-time program; therefore, any number of courses taken in the spring or fall constitutes use of one full semester of educational benefits. The only exception is one regularly scheduled undergraduate course up to three credits each summer as set forth in the Summer Classes policy.

Children must meet the dependent verification requirements prior to receiving the benefit and provide documentation demonstrating that the requirements have been met. The verification documentation must be available throughout the time the benefit is received.

Students receiving a grant or scholarship from other organizations that restrict their use to tuition may not apply that grant or scholarship to non-tuition related costs.

If your child withdraws from school and the total educational benefit amount awarded for that semester is not repaid in full to the University of Notre Dame by the parent, prior to the close of the academic year (June 30th), the semester in which the student withdrew will count as one full-time semester and will be used against the total number of semesters of which the child is eligible.

It is the faculty or staff member’s responsibility to confirm with the University of Notre Dame that the educational benefit has been received and applied to the proper term. Any corrections and/or additions needed must occur in the same academic year and must be completed prior to the close of the University’s fiscal year, June 30th.

Only one summer benefit may be used per summer.

Tax Information

The University will treat the child’s educational benefit as taxable to the parent if the child is not considered a ‘dependent’ according to IRS regulations under the conventional “Qualified Dependent” definition. The tuition benefit will be added to an employee’s taxable income and taxes withheld beginning with the year the employee’s child turns age 24.

For planning purposes, an alternative “Qualified Relative” dependent definition can be applied if all three criteria are met:

Parent provides more than ½ of child’s support for the year,

Child’s gross income will be less than the annual personal exemption amount ($4,050 in 2017), and

Parent will claim child as a dependent on current year’s Federal Income Tax return.

At the end of each calendar year, participants in the tuition benefit program with children age 24 or older will receive communications about the “Qualified Relative” criteria. Those able to attest to meeting all three criteria may have the tuition benefit reclassified as non taxable.